Difference between revisions of "Post-scarcity/Intro"
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| − | [[Image:Cornucopia.jpg|right|120px|Cornucopia (the horn of plenty)]] The '''post-scarcity age''' is an anticipated period where due to advancing technology, efficient use of natural resources and co-operation there | + | [[Image:Cornucopia.jpg|right|120px|Cornucopia (the horn of plenty)]] The '''post-scarcity age''' is an anticipated period where due to advancing technology, efficient use of natural resources and co-operation there could be a great abundance of the material items that everyone needs and wants, achieved with a minimal impact to the environment. |
| − | Many fictional visions of post scarcity involve as yet undeveloped technologies | + | Many fictional visions of post scarcity involve as yet undeveloped technologies but it is interesting to note that material abundance can be produced with existing technologies. Food is one example, where there is more than enough for everyone on the planet, but it is logistics, politics and economics that prevent a more egalitarian distribution. There exists far more energy, raw material and biological resources on Earth than humanity requires, it is a matter of developing systems that use and distribute them more efficiently. |
| − | + | By employing [[open collaborative design]] and [[closed-loop automation|advanced automation]] in combinaton with the enormous [[fundamental resources]] of this planet, everything from the basics like clean water, nutritious food, medicine and suitable housing to increasingly essential material goods such as vehicles, computers, mobile phones {{en}} all the way up to purely luxury items would be trivial to [[Turning virtual designs into physical objects|fabricate]] and distribute. These methods could overcome all ''significant scarcity'' that currently persists due to the outdated economic framework that has been inherited from previous eras. This isn't to say it ''will'' happen, but that it ''could'' happen {{en}} it is feasible from a physical and technological stand-point. It is a matter of understanding what is now possible and choosing to make it happen. | |
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Revision as of 03:33, 6 March 2007
Many fictional visions of post scarcity involve as yet undeveloped technologies but it is interesting to note that material abundance can be produced with existing technologies. Food is one example, where there is more than enough for everyone on the planet, but it is logistics, politics and economics that prevent a more egalitarian distribution. There exists far more energy, raw material and biological resources on Earth than humanity requires, it is a matter of developing systems that use and distribute them more efficiently.
By employing open collaborative design and advanced automation in combinaton with the enormous fundamental resources of this planet, everything from the basics like clean water, nutritious food, medicine and suitable housing to increasingly essential material goods such as vehicles, computers, mobile phones – all the way up to purely luxury items would be trivial to fabricate and distribute. These methods could overcome all significant scarcity that currently persists due to the outdated economic framework that has been inherited from previous eras. This isn't to say it will happen, but that it could happen – it is feasible from a physical and technological stand-point. It is a matter of understanding what is now possible and choosing to make it happen.
